By Jay Dougherty
THERE’S a lot to like about Apple's new iPad2. Cost, however, is probably not one of them. With a base price of $499 in the US to the equivalent of over $700 in parts of Europe, the iPad2 is no small expenditure.
Purchase price, though, is just the beginning. Apple's glitzy new tablet will likely not only wow onlookers with its impressive touch-screen interface and dazzling display but also shock more than a few unsuspecting owners when they discover how many hidden costs come with the device. Here are a few.
Network service
The iPad2 thrives on an Internet connection, and depending upon which version of the iPad2 you purchase, that connection could be a significant ongoing expense.
There are two versions of the iPad2. A "Wi-Fi" edition allows you to connect the device to any available wireless (Wi-Fi) hotspot or router, and a "Wi-Fi + 3G" edition gives you the option of connecting to the Internet either through a wireless router or to a cellular carrier's 3G network.
The latter — Wi-Fi + 3G — is the one that will bring the iPad2 to life, for it allows you to use the iPad2's many internet-dependent features just about everywhere. It's also, unfortunately, the edition that will cost the most up front and
Protection plans
throughout the life of the device. The reason: You'll have to buy that 3G network access from a cellular carrier and pay a monthly fee based upon how much data you download or intend to download.
In most countries, those monthly fees can add up quickly, easily outstripping the cost of the device. So spend some time investigating 3G plans for the iPad2 before you purchase the tablet. And if you plan to travel abroad with your iPad2, know that you may be looking either at the purchase of additional SIM cards or at adding potentially expensive data options to your existing plan in order to use the iPad2 as you travel.
When you purchase an iPad2, you'll likely have the option of purchasing some type of protection plan. Apple, for instance, offers an AppleCare Protection Plan that will cover certain types of damage to the iPad for two years from the original purchase date. The cost of such protection will probably add at least 15 per cent to the price of the least expensive iPad2.
The cost of insuring the iPad2 should probably be considered a necessity, however. The device, after all, is not cheap, nor is it indestructible. While tests have shown the unit's screen to hold up well to typical usage, it is made of glass, and the entire unit is portable, so accidents could happen. Plus the iPad2 is one of the hottest items in the world of tech right now, so it's obviously an attractive target for thieves.
But before you buy the first protection plan that's offered to you, spend some time looking at your options. If you have renter's or homeowner's insurance, for instance, you may actually be able to add the iPad2 as personal property and get theft insurance thrown in as well.
Apps
Like the iPhone, the iPad2 will tempt you with a bevy of downloadable apps that give the device new or irresist- ible functionality. The catch? Many of these apps will cost you additional money. While some apps go for just a few dollars, others sell for $40 or more. Start piling on the apps, and you may quickly find your wallet getting lighter.
What's an iPad2 without accessories? It's still an iPad2, of course, but it may suddenly seem less useful once you learn about the plethora of accessories available for the device.
For instance, there's an add-on that can turn the iPad2 into an audio-visual presentation tool and another that can transform it into something resembling a notebook computer, complete with separate keyboard. A wide range of accessories provide more protection to the tablet or give it personal panache. There's even an accessory that turns the iPad2 into a portable amplifier for your guitar.
All of these accessories have one thing in common: They add significantly to the amount of money you tie up in the iPad2. The guitar gizmo alone, for instance, retails for $99.
If you've had your heart set on an iPad2, none of this means that you should be any less excited. The iPad is, after all, the device that virtually jumpstarted an entire category of computing just over a year ago. But before you hand over your hard-earned cash for the iPad2, it's probably wise to calculate just how much the tablet will really cost you. — dpa